UPSC 2026 International Relations Previous Year Questions

Question 1

The Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany visited India in January, 2026. Which of the following is/are not correct in terms of outcomes of this visit? 1. Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the All India Institute of Ayurveda and the University of Hamburg 2. Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Youth Hockey Development between Hockey India and the German Hockey Federation 3. Establishment of a bilateral dialogue mechanism on the Indo-Pacific 4. Opening of an Honorary Consul of Germany in Lucknow Select the answer using the code given below:

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 2 and 3 | 1 and 4 | 3 and 4 | 1 only. The January 2026 visit of the German Chancellor produced the Youth Hockey Development MoU between Hockey India and the German Hockey Federation and a bilateral dialogue mechanism on the Indo-Pacific, but not the Ayurveda-University of Hamburg MoU or an Honorary Consul in Lucknow. Hence outcomes 1 and 4 are not correct.

Question 2

Which of the following statements in relation to NIRANTAR (National Institute for Research and Application of Natural Resources to Transform, Adapt and Build Resilience), a platform of institutions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, is/are correct? 1. Ecosystem Survey and Analysis is a vertical under this platform, the lead institute of which is Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata. 2. Research and Management of Ecosystem Service is a vertical under this platform, the lead institute of which is Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi. 3. Capacity Development Support is a vertical under this platform, the lead institute of which is Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal. Select the answer using the code given below:

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 1, 2 and 3 | 1 and 3 only | 2 only | 3 only. NIRANTAR includes Ecosystem Survey and Analysis led by BSI and Capacity Development Support led by IIFM. The ecosystem-services vertical is not led by Central Zoo Authority.

Question 3

Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists: List I (INTERPOL Notice): A. Silver Notice; B. Blue Notice; C. Black Notice; D. Green Notice. List II (Description): 1. To seek information on unidentified bodies; 2. To collect additional information about a person's identity, location, or activities in relation to a criminal investigation; 3. To provide warning about a person's criminal activities, where the person is considered to be a possible threat to public safety; 4. To identify and trace criminal assets. Code: A B C D

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4 | A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4 | A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3 | A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3. Silver Notice traces criminal assets, Blue Notice seeks information on identity/location/activities, Black Notice concerns unidentified bodies, and Green Notice warns about criminal activities/threats.

Question 4

Which of the following countries are members of the European Union? 1. Belarus 2. Poland 3. Germany 4. Switzerland Select the answer using the code given below:

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. 1, 2 and 4 | 1 and 4 only | 2 and 3 | 2 and 4 only. Poland and Germany are EU members; Belarus and Switzerland are not.

Question 5

Which of the following statements with respect to the Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) is/are correct? 1. The period of its implementation is 1st April, 2021 to 31st March, 2026. 2. The key objective of the Revamped RGSA is to develop the governance capabilities of the Panchayati Raj Institutions to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals. 3. The share of the Central funding for the Revamped RGSA is 100% for all States and Union Territories. Select the answer using the code given below:

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 1 and 2 | 2 only | 1 and 3 | 2 and 3. Revamped RGSA aims to build PRI governance capabilities for SDG delivery. Its period and funding-share statements are not correct as framed.

Question 6

Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched? (Indian Army Corps) - (Headquarters)

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. 3 Corps : Dimapur | 4 Corps : Tezpur | 14 Corps : Leh | 33 Corps : Srinagar. 3 Corps-Dimapur, 4 Corps-Tezpur and 14 Corps-Leh are correct. 33 Corps is headquartered at Sukna, not Srinagar.

Question 7

Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists: List I (BIMSTEC Centre / Establishment): A. BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory; B. BIMSTEC Energy Centre; C. BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate; D. BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility. List II (Location): 1. NOIDA; 2. Bengaluru; 3. Colombo; 4. Thimphu. Code: A B C D

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4 | A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4 | A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3 | A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3. The BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory is in Thimphu, Energy Centre in Bengaluru, Weather and Climate Centre in Noida, and Technology Transfer Facility in Colombo.

Question 8

Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists: List I (UN Peacekeeping Operation): A. UNMIL; B. MINURCAT; C. MINUSTAH; D. UNMISET. List II (Period of Operation): 1. 2007 - 2010; 2. 2002 - 2005; 3. 2003 - 2018; 4. 2004 - 2017. Code: A B C D

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2 | A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2 | A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3 | A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3. UNMIL operated 2003-2018, MINURCAT 2007-2010, MINUSTAH 2004-2017, and UNMISET 2002-2005.

Question 9

Consider the following UN organisations/ agencies: 1. World Food Programme 2. United Nations Children's Fund 3. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 4. International Labour Organisation How many of the above has/have been awarded the Nobel Prize twice?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. 1 | 2 | 3 | 4. Among the listed bodies, UNHCR has received the Nobel Peace Prize twice. WFP, UNICEF and ILO have each received it once, so only one organisation in the list has been awarded twice.

Question 10

Consider the following statements about platforms for multilateral co-operation: 1. The 'Colombo Process' is a regional consultative process in which member states take binding decisions by consensus. 2. The 'Abu Dhabi Dialogue' is a voluntary non-binding consultative process among Asian countries of labour origin and destination to facilitate regional cooperation on contractual labour mobility. 3. The 'Global Forum for Migration and Development', created upon the proposal of a former UN Secretary General, is a voluntary forum whose decisions are non-binding in nature. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. 1, 2 and 3 | 1 and 3 only | 2 and 3 only | 2 only. The Abu Dhabi Dialogue and Global Forum for Migration and Development are voluntary, non-binding forums. Colombo Process is consultative and not binding in the way stated.

UPSC 2026 International Relations PYQs with Answers